I have hunted, battled and achieved victory.

I'm experiencing a somewhat complicated feeling. The pain and suffering I endured to achieve this goal is something I can't recall from my previous life; neither do I remember this satisfaction, this triumph.

Mostly, I remember feeling numb.

[You have defeated Level 2 Spinetta Lacertos.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You achieved Level 2, One skill point awarded.]

The voice of Gandalf?! So talkative all of a sudden! Level two has been achieved, eh? Fantastic!

So this lizard is a Spinetta Lacertos? What on earth does that mean? This name sounds vaguely Latin? Come to think of it my species was listed as Formica? If I recall back to my ant keeping hobby, Formica is the Latin name for wood ants. Are all the creatures here named in Latin?

That … seems odd.

Ignoring that for a moment, I'll focus on a few other things I've learned. For one, I now know that I can gain experience to improve my level when I defeat other creatures in this place, secondly, I know that I earn a new skill point when I level up and thirdly, I learned that this is also true for the other creatures here. Since this …. Spinetta thing was at level two, I can assume there are two possibilities, either it was born level two, or it managed to level up once.

I have to ponder this in greater depth later! I have two other things to worry about now. I can't leave my prey here in the open in case the scent attracts other monsters, and I'm starving! I have to eat!

Without waiting any longer, I rush into my pitfall and approach the lizard. Burns and melted flesh as a result of my acid can be seen alongside crushed limbs and puncture wounds from my bites.

It looks very pitiful.

I'm sorry lizard; I'm really sorry. You didn't deserve this fate.

However, since the deed has already been done, I will now partake in my first meal.

Did you know that an ant has a mouth on the bottom side of its head? Most people think that the mandibles are the mouth, or that the mouth is positioned behind them, but this isn't so, the mandibles are more like hands attached to the head whilst the mouth is below them.

I take a bite.

Hmm, this flavour, how could I describe it? It's unique and potent, for sure. I'm reaching for a word here. I wonder what would be most appropriate?

Disgusting.

It's seriously disgusting.

Despite being so hungry, I feel my carapace is constricting. This is not a pleasant meal.

[You have consumed a new source of Biomass: Spinetta Lacertos, you are awarded one Biomass.]

[Basic profile of the Spinetta Lacertos unlocked]

The voice of Gandalf! I am graced by your weathered tones once again, o great one!

So many developments, so quickly, it's enough to make me dizzy, I'll have to think whilst eating. Apparently, I'll gain one Biomass every time I'm able to hunt a new species of creature. Also, I was able to unlock a profile? A basic profile? How do I access that?

I'll have to experiment later.

As quickly as I can I finish the lizard, I feel quite full! I can tell my gaster, my back segment, is swollen to a much larger size than it was before. Just as I finish eating, I get another surprise:

[You have gained one Biomass.]

Another one! Truly, my harvest has been rich from this hunt!

Only one thing to do now that I have finally achieved success and reaped such a bounty, retreat to my nest and consider my next move.

Keeping my antennae waving, sensing the air, I once again climb up the wall, making my way to the roof and sneak my way back over the water pool towards the tunnel that houses my nest. A range of monsters are still communing around the water, but they are too focused on watching each other to look up and detect me.

In this way, I return to my place of safety.

Tucked away in a somewhat secure place, I can now take some time to assess my situation and plot my next move.

Ok, the first thing to do is to check my status.

[Status]

Name: Anthony (I)

Level : 2

Might: 15

Toughness: 12

Cunning: 25

Will: 18

HP: 30

MP: 0

Skills: Digging level 3; Acid Shot Level 2; Grip Level 3; Bite Level 3; Stealth Level 3;

Mutations: Eyes +1

Species: Hatchling Ant Worker (Formica)

Skill points: 1

Biomass: 2

Ha ha! Behold my incredible growth! Despite my difficult start, I've managed to survive, secure my first meal, level up and improve my skills. I'm very proud of this result.

Against all the odds I will survive, this is the burning ambition of my soul!

Now I have to make a prudent decision. I have two Biomass points to spend. I'll have to consider the options carefully and …

Eyes! Evolve my eyes to +2 for the love of the blessed light!

[Do you wish to improve your eyes to +2? This will cost two Biomass?]

Do iiiiiit!

Immediately, the mad, ravenous itching sensation consumes my eyes. I can only endure it by flopping onto my back and rolling back and forth whilst scratching at the earth walls with my claws. I hate this damn feeling so muuuuuch!

Finally the itching fades, and I can immediately tell that my eyesight has improved once again. Really, the poor ant eyesight is hugely frustrating to deal with. Being used to human sight as I am, having to cope with such blurry vision, so poor that I can barely see a creature if it sits still, is terrifying!

Taking a look around I can tell that my vision is still far worse than an average human's, but is much improved compared to what I started with. Objects are still blurry, but by waving my leg in front of my face, I can detect that my ability to see movement has improved quite a bit.

At this rate, I think it will take at least +4 eyesight before I can see as well as I did in my previous life. Perhaps even +5. Since the next upgrade will probably take three Biomass since this one needed two, it will be a long time before I'm able to purchase level four, let alone level five.

I may have to cope with my current level of eyesight for some time.

However I'm pleased with this purchase, my ability to scout as well as fight has improved, and I've gotten closer to being able to operate as an independent ant, not requiring the communal assistance of a colony to survive.

Now I have to spend my skill point. I've had a skill in mind for some time now, ever since I first saw it. Since my priority is still gathering information, scouting and survival rather than a direct increase in battle strength, this skill will be essential to me.

Tunnel sense.

By improving my sense of direction, I'll be able to range further from my nest to gain information. There is a risk here; however, by not increasing my ability to fight and hunt for food, I am going to endure more disadvantageous combat. However, I will continue to pursue my policy of scouting and research first.

It must be understood that my capacity to fight is still complete garbage, hot trash, bottom of the barrel filth! Putting one skill point into a combat skill is not going to turn this situation around in the short term!

Survival is the first, second and third priority! For survival, there must be knowledge, for without knowledge, I cannot hope to find prey I can defeat, or avoid those I cannot.

I still don't know anything about this place! I'm in some kind of connected network of tunnels that is populated by bizarre monsters, has glowy lines snaking through the walls and for some incredible reason, there is a game like system with skills, level-ups and a Biomass mutation system.

Isn't this world… a little weird?

I haven't seen a single person yet, nor any evidence of one. Is it possible monsters inhabit this entire place? Is there even a habitable surface? Or is this world wholly populated by subterranean lifeforms?

Still too many questions! All these unknowns make me too nervous. I have to have a clearer understanding of my situation. Tunnel Sense will broaden my range, allowing me to range further and still make it back to the only place of relative safety, my nest.

[Do you want to learn the skill Tunnel Sense? This will cost one skill point].

Yes!

A warm tickling sensation, like water running through my hair in a shower, except deeper, inside my head, comes over me. Perhaps I didn't notice this before since I upgraded my eyes at the same time as I purchased a skill. It's far more pleasant than the eye mutation. Just thinking about that itching sends a shiver down my spine.

Soon the feeling fades and Tunnel Sense has been learned. I can't feel anything different straight away, hopefully, it will show its effect as I explore.

Now, for the first time with a full stomach, I'll get some rest, recover, then push into brave new frontiers! While in stealth, of course.